I’ve just finished putting together my 2009 mix that I give out to friends and family each year. This year’s was particularly difficult and I rather wish I could have put out a double-disk mix. Maybe I’ll look into jewel cases for next year. The cover was something of a challenge this year. The main portion is a modified version of a piece called “Little Spanish Dancer” and the background is a modification of some lovely detail work by Echo Chernik. Here’s the play list; I’ll put up an iTunes link when I can.

Just You and Me – Zee Avi
Mi Swing Es Tropical – Quantic & Nickodemus
Bruises – Chairlift
5 Years Time – Noah and the Whale
Lisztomania – Phoenix
Love Me Dead – Ludo
Guilty Pleasure – Cobra Starship
Everything Is Everything – Phoenix
Nth Degree – Morningwood
Underwater – Mock & Toof
We Are All Connected – Symphony of Science
La Flaca – Jarabe de Palo
Blue Jeans & White T-Shirts – The Gaslight Anthem
Forever – The Explorers Club
Mingus – I’m from Barcelona
Foundations (Full Explicit Version) – Kate Nash
The Step and the Walk – The Duke Spirit
Graffiti Eyes – Stellastarr*
Supernatural Supergirl – josh kramon
My Beautiful Rescue (Renovated) – This Providence

UPDATE: Here’s the iTune’s Store iMix. It’s $20.01 for all the songs except “We Are All Connected” (which is a free download) but if you write me I might give you a super secret download link…

While you’re at it, you might want to pick up the new A Very Bootie Christmas, a collection of holiday themed mashup music. I haven’t listened to the new one yet, but the 2006 version was amazing.

However…

Come on people. It took me almost an hour to get home tonight, in what should normally be a 20 minute commute. On my motorcycle. Cutting lanes. It took my flatmate almost two hours to travel not even 15 miles. There are something like 160,000 people expected in the park over the weekend, an ungodly percentage of those people driving. I direct you to this from the last link above:

Radiohead cares about carbon-neutral touring, and wants to site shows at places with transit; like GGP.

This means the band all you crap drivers are coming to see DOES NOT WANT YOU TO DRIVE. So don’t. Take the bus. Walk. Don’t park on the sidewalks. Don’t get pissy when you can’t find parking. Don’t cut people off because they aren’t going as fast as you think they should. Respect the neighborhoods you are over-burdening with your presence.

I really love that we are having this event in Golden Gate Park, in San Francisco, but for frack’s sake plan ahead. I hope the next two days are better…

Love it love it love it.

So in honor of this awesome weather, here’s WFMU’s collection of 72 versions of Stormy Weather. Get the set and play on repeat for the next couple days!

When we walked into the place I heard the nostalgic lounge sounds playing in the background, but it didn’t register just what was playing until we were led to our table. Then it hit me; someone was doing a super mellow, super laid back cover of Joy Division’s Love Will Tear Us Apart! I was impressed, and as we sat and talked about work, friends, boots, and attempts to abolish rent control in California we heard covers of Depeche Mode, The Cure, Modern English, Sisters of Mercy, Public Image Ltd and more. There was even a cover of an old, obscure Martin Gore solo endeavor. WTF? I didn’t think anyone even knew Martin Gore did a solo! It intrigued both of us enough that as we were leaving I asked the hostess who the band was.

They are Nouvelles Vague from France. I think I’m in love. I bought two of their albums and am staying up too late listening…